NEPHI, Utah — Utah Highway Patrol are now detailing what led up to a standoff that closed Interstate 15 near Nephi for about an hour Wednesday. According to troopers, a man ran from a traffic stop before crashing and refusing to cooperate with officials.
Utah Highway Patrol says that on Wednesday at 3:38 p.m., multiple calls were placed saying that a white Ford van traveling north on I-15 was driving recklessly. A trooper located the van near mile marker 214 and initiated a traffic stop.
Troopers report that the driver, who hasn't been named by authorities, was visibly impaired. When officials attempted to take the driver back to their patrol car for sobriety tests they say he instead ran back to his van and drove off.
A pursuit was started following the van for about 6 miles before the vehicle ran off the road to the left and struck a cable barrier. Following the crash, the driver barricaded himself inside the van and wouldn't comply with the officials' commands.
The Juab County Sheriff's Office and several other agencies assisted in closing the Interstate in both directions as first responders worked to approach the van.
Nephi City officers also responded to the scene with an armored vehicle. However, as they approached, they saw what appeared to be a rifle in the back of the van. For the officers' safety, they withdrew.
The Utah County Community Emergency Response Team approached the van and deployed gas inside, forcing the driver to open the van's door. Eventually, the driver exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.
The driver is now being held at the Juab County Jail. Inside the vehicle, no gun was found but officers did find marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a 30 pack of Bud Light.
